Jonathon Cooper has the Broncos thinking about a contract extension

The Broncos have shown a willingness to take care of themselves.

Prior to the 2024 season, the organization signed cornerback Pat Surtain II and right guard Quinn Meinerz to large contract extensions, making them two of the highest-paid players at their respective positions. So who should be the next Denver player to get a long-term deal?

Outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper is definitely an argument. Because he plays at one of the top positions on the field, his rise over the last two seasons is incentive for the Broncos to lock him up before he hits free agency in March 2025.

After playing a reserved role in his first two seasons, Cooper broke out in 2023 following the departure of veterans Randy Gregory and Frank Clark. According to Next Gen Stats, he finished with 8.5 sacks and 55 quarterback pressures for the team.

Through seven games this season, Cooper has been even better as the focal point of one of the league's best pass-rushing defenses. Cooper sacked quarterback Geno Smith on the first defensive play of the year and hasn't let up since.

The 26-year-old is second on the team in sacks (4.5) and pressures (22) and has recorded at least four pressures in four games. The Broncos have generated the second-highest pressure rate (41%) and third-highest sack rate (9.7%) in the league.

But Cooper is more than just an effective pass rusher. He has also made an impact on Denver's run defense. Cooper, a seventh-round pick, has 11 run stops, third among edge rushers according to Pro Football Focus.

“(Cooper is) a downhill, straight-shooting (type of player),” head coach Sean Payton said. “That becomes a liability when you’re a tight end or even a tackle. You feel a strong presence. He is certainly one of our top players that we can rely on. Not only to apply pressure in the passing game, but also to create an advantage in the running game.”

Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph called Cooper the type of player who allows a coach to change the culture because of his toughness and approach to the game. Joseph added that Cooper's energy is infectious and pushes players to keep up with her.

The former Ohio State pass rusher and his teammate Baron Browning are two of 14 players on the active roster set to enter unrestricted free agency this offseason. If the Broncos believe Cooper can be a cornerstone of this new era, extending him should be one of their priorities next spring.

According to Over The Cap, he has a cap hit of $3.14 million this season. If Cooper's strong performance continues for the rest of the season, he could be in for a significant win. According to the Over the Cap valuation metric, which measures contract value against on-site production, Cooper is worth $19.65 million per year.

He could get a similar deal to Eagles edge rusher Bryce Huff, who signed a three-year, $51 million deal ($34 million guaranteed) after registering 10 sacks for the Jets in 2023. Almost similar to Cooper, Huff was an undrafted free agent who blossomed last year. He has an average annual salary of $17.03 million and has four years left on his contract.

Financially, Denver should be in a better position to extend Cooper. After eating up $53 million in dead money on quarterback Russell Wilson's contract this year, the Broncos are projected to have $70.9 million in cap space in 2025, according to Over The Cap.

However, the Broncos might not be able to keep Browning and Cooper, which could be another reason they took edge rusher Jonah Elliss in the third round of April's draft. Should Denver face this dilemma, Cooper could come out on top because of his ability to stay on the field. Browning played his third game of the season on Thursday against New Orleans. He missed the last four games as a substitute due to a foot injury and missed seven games in the 2023 season.